By Tobias Lengnan Dapam
As the country prepares for 2023 elections, the Commandant General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ahmed Audi, has called for new strategies to address put an end to insecurity and address election related violence.
Audi, stated this on Thursday at the headquarters of the corps during the 2022 Commandant General’s Conference.
The conference saw commandants from the 36 states and other top brass of the agency in attendance.
It availed the agency an opportunity to appraise and present before the public, its performance in the last three (3) months of the year.
Speaking while addressing the commandants, the CG said, “We must begin to deploy new strategies in tackling the spate of insecurity in the land, if we must effectively protect the masses during upcoming electioneering campaigns as well as the electorates, electoral materials and the electoral umpires at the period of elections from any form of attack or danger in the course of their duties.
Let me use this opportunity to commend your efforts and commitment as we continue to steadily and gradually take appropriate steps in our collective efforts to deliver on our mandate.
“We are not oblivious of the challenge ahead of us in the face of the prevailing security situation, but with our collective resolve, avowed commitment and dedication, we will surely surmount all and impact positively in fostering that much desired safe and secure environment to engender peace and socioeconomic development.
“The situation we have found ourselves calls for serious and appropriate measures at this critical time in our checkered history as a Nation. We should have at the back of our minds that a secure and resilient electoral process is of vital National interest.
“Let us therefore remain resilient and committed to working collaboratively with Sister Security Agencies and other Stakeholders while we remain agile and steadfast to manage the risks thrown up by events leading to the upcoming election and be combat ready to protect the citizens of this great Country and secure our Critical National Assets and Infrastructure against new and evolving threats.
“As security agency of Government, we play a very critical and vital role in checkmating and prevention of violence while ensuring effective protection in all the phases leading to the general elections to consolidate our democracy and democratic process.
“We must therefore be proactive and take necessary steps toward tackling the challenges of insecurity as we embark on this all important journey towards ensuring a free, fair and credible elections.
“Let me also use this opportunity to advise and remind Nigerians that security is everybody’s business. We must therefore rise up to assist Security Agencies with credible and actionable intelligence that could aid in checkmating and addressing the spate of insecurity in the Country. I want to assure you that every piece of information provided will be treated with utmost confidentiality. “When you see something, say something”.
